10 – Tools
10.1 – Console Carrier
The console carrier provides access to the remote console
subsystem (ASCII console) of a network server on a LAN.
The console carrier interface does not use NCL. Instead,
you can enter commands at the operating system to use the
console carrier.
10.1.1 – OpenVMS
The Phase IV NCP CONNECT NODE and NCP CONNECT VIA commands
have no Phase V equivalent. Instead, use SET HOST to use
the console carrier function of MOP on Phase V:
$ SET HOST/MOP
Either the NET$MANAGE or the NET$DIAGNOSE rights
identifiers or BYPASS privilege is required to use the
Console Carrier on OpenVMS.
For further information about the console carrier on
OpenVMS systems, refer to the DECnet-Plus Network
Management book, Appendix I.
10.1.2 – Tru64 UNIX
For further information about the console carrier on Tru64
UNIX systems, see the ccr command in the DECnet-Plus for
Network Management book, Appendix K.
10.2 – GUI (Graphical User Interface)
NCL can be accessed through either a command line interface
or a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The GUI allows network
managers to view the status of network components and control
those components from a Motif-based window interface.
This utility provides a hierarchical graphical approach to
the management of DECnet-Plus. The manageable components of
DECnet-Plus (modules, entities and subentities) are
represented in a tree-like structure below the icon that
represents the node you are managing. This provides an easy
way to familiarize yourself with the organization of these
manageable entities (the entity hierarchy). Another way to
view the entity hierarchy is to use this help facility --
see HELP ENTITY_HIERACHY.
For further information regarding the network management GUI,
refer to the DECnet-Plus Network Management book.
10.2.1 – Invoking
On Tru64 UNIX, the GUI is located at dna_mgmt.
On OpenVMS, you can invoke the NCL GUI by:
$ run sys$system:net$mgmt
The same OpenVMS rights required to run NCL on are also
required to run this utility. Refer to HELP
NETWORK_MANAGEMENT ACCESS_CONTROL RIGHTS_IDENTIFIERS for more
information about rights identifiers.
10.2.2 – Displaying NCL Commands
You may choose to enable the displaying of NCL commands in
order to see what NCL commands are being issued on your behalf
by the GUI. Do so by pulling down the Options menu, selecting
the Default Actions menu item, and enabling Display NCL Commands
in the dialog box. The NCL commands will appear in the window
from which you started the GUI. Viewing these commands will
help familiarize you with NCL syntax.
10.2.3 – Tasks
The NCL GUI can also perform task-oriented functions which
involve many NCL commands or are complex in some way. The
currently supported NCL GUI tasks are:
o show known links
o show known node counters
o check transports
You can invoke these tasks by pulling down the Tasks menu
and selecting the appropriate task.
10.3 – Decnet Migrate
Using the decnet_migrate utility, you can:
- Convert NCP commands to NCL commands (where equivalents exist)
- Collect information about your network configuration
- Set up routing between Phase IV and Phase V areas.
For further information on the use of the decnet_migrate, you may
either Invoke the utility and access help, as in:
$ run sys$update:decnet_migrate
DECNET_MIGRATE> help
Or refer to the DECnet-Plus Network Management book.
10.4 – Decnet Register
With decnet_register, you can manage the node names and addressing
information in both the Local namespace and the DECdns namespace,
using either the command-line or forms-driven version of the tool.
On OpenVMS, invoke decnet_register as follows. By default,
decnet_register starts in forms mode from a video terminal and in
command mode from a hardcopy terminal.
$ run sys$system:decnet_register
You can define the following logical before invoking
decnet_register if you want to force command mode:
$ define decnet_register_commands 1
Some examples using the command line interface are provided here.
To obtain further help regarding the decnet_register utility, either
invoke the utility and enter "?" at the Option prompt, or refer to
the DECnet-Plus Network Management book.
10.4.1 – Examples
The following example demonstrates how to modify a pre-existing
LOCAL registration using decnet_register's command line interface:
$ define decnet_register_commands 1
$ run sys$system:decnet_register
modify node LOCAL:.logic directory_service LOCAL -
towers {SC3/NSP/24.6,SC3/TP4/24.6}
show node LOCAL:.logic directory_service LOCAL full
exit
The following example shows how to register a Phase V
node in the LOCAL namespace, explicitly specifying
session control Version 3 for NSP. If the session
version is not specified, NSP towers will still
default to SC2, and OSI towers will default to SC3:
$ define decnet_register_commands 1
$ run sys$system:decnet_register
register node LOCAL:.newno1 directory_service LOCAL -
towers {SC3/NSP/24.224,TP4/24.224} synonym newno1
show node LOCAL:.newno1 directory_service LOCAL full
exit
This example shows how to use decnet_register from
an OpenVMS node to register a Phase V node in the
WINTER namespace. The node being registered is
an OpenVMS node that is configured to run NSP,
OSI Transport Class 4, and OSI Transport Class 2 for
DECnet over IP:
$ define decnet_register_commands 1
$ run sys$system:decnet_register
register node WINTER:.xpr.newno1 directory_service DECdns -
towers {SC3/NSP/24.224,TP4/24.224,TP2/IP=161.114.94.128} -
synonym newno1
show node Winter:.xpr.newno1 directory_service DECdns full
exit
Note that only decnet_register on OpenVMS accepts IP
tower registrations, and those registrations must be
made in the DECdns directory service. IP towers cannot
be registered in the LOCAL namespace. Furthermore,
decnet_register does not handle Domain (Bind) registrations.
10.5 – Configuration Monitor
The LAN configuration monitor listens for system id messages on
the LAN and records the results. HP-supplied LAN stations
transmit a system id message every 10 minutes on average.
Therefore, by listening to these messages the configuration
monitor builds a database containing details about most systems
that are operational.
To use the Configuration Monitor, MOP must be started on the
system, refer to HELP MOP for information on how to configure
and start MOP. If a mop circuit has already been created, you
may start the configuration monitor by enabling that function
on that MOP circuit, as in:
ncl> enable mop circuit csmacd-1 function {configuration monitor}
The configuration monitor then stores the data it collects as a
set of station subentities, one for each address from which a
system id is received. The name of a station entity is
constructed from a LAN address. Use the show command to view
the contents of this database, as in:
ncl> show mop circuit csmacd-1 station * all
To discontinue operation of the configuration monitor and delete
the contents of the database, you may disable that function, as
in:
ncl> disable mop circuit csmacd-1 function {configuration monitor}
10.6 – NCP Emulator (OpenVMS)
Using the NCP Emulator, you can manage remote Phase IV nodes
with the "tell" and "set executor node" commands. Before you
invoke the NCP Emulator, make sure the NET$MOP process is
running. To invoke the NCP Emulator, enter:
$ run sys$system:ncp
The following example modifies the cost on circuit sva-0 on
boston, a remote Phase IV node:
NCP> tell boston"bostonaccount bostonpwd" -
_NCP> set circuit sva-0 cost 4
The NCP Emulator was designed to facilitate software
installations on DECnet Phase V systems; it was not intended
as a replacement for NCL. For more information on the NCP
Emulator and the limited set of NCP commands it supports,
refer to the Network Management manual.
10.7 – DNS$Control
With dns$control you can manage the components of DECdns and the
contents of the DECdns namespace.
To invoke dns$control on OpenVMS, enter:
$ run sys$system:dns$control
For more information about dns$control, you may either invoke the
utility and enter "help" at the DNS> prompt, or refer to the
DECnet-Plus DECdns Management manual.
10.8 – NET$Configure (OpenVMS)
This procedure is used to configure your DECnet-Plus system. The
net$configure options are: FAST, BASIC, or ADVANCED. For help in
determining which option to use and how to invoke that option,
refer to the option descriptions below.
10.8.1 – FAST
This option will be invoked the first time you configure a
Phase V node by:
$ @sys$manager:net$configure
Choose to continue with this FAST default configuration if:
- You are upgrading from a DECnet Phase IV node and you
plan to use the existing Phase IV configuration.
- The node is not in a cluster.
- You are not running and do not plan to run this as a DNS
Server.
After the FAST configuration has been run once on your system,
the configuration option defaults to BASIC. For more
information about the FAST configuration option, refer to the
Installation and Basic Configuration manual.
10.8.2 – BASIC
Choose this option if...
- The node is in a cluster.
- You are upgrading or reconfiguring DECnet-Plus.
- You need to access a DECdns server for network addresses.
- You want to run DECnet over TCP/IP (RFC 1859) and/or
OSI applications over TCP/IP (RFC 1006).
- You only have one communications device, or you have
multiple devices, all of which will be used for
DECnet-Plus communications.
- You want to use the default names for all devices and
routing circuits (for example, default csmacd-0, rather
than sva-0).
- You want to autoconfigure your network addresses only.
- You want to configure both the NSP and OSI transports
and only want to create default OSI templates. You want
to enable both DECnet over TCP/IP or OSI applications
over TCP/IP.
- You do not want to enable FDDI large packet support
(if you have an FDDI-type circuit).
- You want to set the routing characteristic DNS Address
Format to TRUE (this attribute controls the
interpretation of address structuring).
- You want to use integrated mode routing.
To invoke net$configure using the BASIC option, enter:
$ @sys$manager:net$configure
For more information about the BASIC configuration, refer
to the Installation and Basic Configuration manual.
10.8.3 – ADVANCED
Choose the ADVANCED option if...
- Your configuration is complex.
- You need to customize your network's configuration.
- Your system has multiple communication devices, and you
want them to run a mix of protocols.
- You want to configure a cluster with both DECnet Phase IV
and DECnet Phase V nodes.
- You want the option to give specific names to all devices
and routing circuits. You also want the option of not
configuring all your devices for DECnet-Plus.
- You want the option of manually entering your network
addresses.
- You want to configure either the NSP transport or the OSI
transport (or both). You want the option to create
additional OSI templates. You want the option of
enabling/disabling DECnet over TCP/IP or OSI applications
over TCP/IP.
- You want the option of enabling FDDI large packet support
(if you have an FDDI-type circuit).
- You want the option of setting the routing characteristic
DNA Address Format to TRUE or FALSE (to control the
interpretation of address structuring).
- You want the option of using either intregated mode
routing or segregated mode routing.
- You want the option to provide default accounts for FAL.
To invoke net$configure using the ADVANCED option, enter:
$ @sys$manager:net$configure advanced
For more information about the ADVANCED configuration,
refer to the Applications Installation and Advanced
Configuration manual.